BISHOPS REVISE CLAUSE 5 (1)(c)

The bishops have made their decision regarding Clause 5(1) (c) The final text proposed by the House of Bishops is:

Substitute for the words in clause 5(1)(c):" the selection of male bishops and male priests in a manner which respects the grounds on which parochial church councils issue Letters of Request under section 3"

The House also agreed to establish a group to develop the illustrative draft Code of Practice published in January to give effect to the new provision.

According to the report on the BBC this morning, the Bishops believe that those opposed to the legislation to consecrate women as bishops do not have sufficient votes in General Synod to defeat the measure and therefore they can proceed with it and the revised clause with impunity. The fact that the Bishops have decided to withdraw the original clause and substitute the wording quoted above, demonstrates their surrender to the strong-arm tactics of militant women and the total disregard they have for the traditionalist position despite all the promises made and reassurances given when the law was changed to allow the ordination of women. My feeling is that this revision gives very little, if any, protection to Anglo-Catholic parishes who have the misfortune, for example, to be in a Diocese with a militant woman bishop determined to “do it her way”.

TEACHERS COULD FACE THE SACK OVER GAY MARRIAGES

In their latest email Coalition for Marriage points out that it is reported in the Daily Telegraph that “teachers could lose their jobs if they refuse to endorse gay marriage in the classroom”

The email continues : “The Telegraph's report also shows that parents would have little hope of withdrawing children from gay marriage lessons across the curriculum.

Outside education, foster carers and NHS chaplains could be penalised for expressing support for traditional marriage. And there is real concern that ministers of religion could be taken to court if they refuse to conduct gay weddings.

The Telegraph's report is based on a legal opinion produced by leading human rights and civil liberties lawyer, Aidan O'Neill QC. He shows the far-reaching impact of redefining marriage for freedom of conscience and civil liberty. You can read a summary here.

Already, we have seen cases of people being punished in their jobs for their opinions about gay marriage. Adrian Smith, a Housing Manager from Manchester, was demoted and had his salary cut by 40%, just for saying gay weddings in churches were "an equality too far". Lillian Ladele, a registrar at Islington Borough Council, was forced out of her job because she asked not to be designated as a civil partnership registrar..O’Neill advises on the position of the Church of England. As the established church, it is under a legal obligation to marry any persons who are eligible to marry in England and Wales.Even if Parliament passes a law which allows (but does not oblige) churches to host gay weddings, O’Neill advises that the UK Government could be in breach of European human rights laws if it allows the C of E to refuse gay weddings. This is because of the C of E’s unique status as the established State church. O’Neill says the church would be in a safer position if it was disestablished.

Despite Government reassurances that clergy would not be under any obligation to conduct same sex marriages I suspect that it would not be long before some one decides to take the matter to the Court of Human Rights. And how long would it be before those Bishops who support Gay Marriage put pressure on clergy and possibly on General Synod to change the legislation. From bitter experience we know that reassurances given and promises made can and often are changed

23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Today I celebrated and preached at St. Mary’s Ilford, the day after they celebrated their Patronal Festival. As usual the choir were superb. In my sermon, based on the Gospel, I talked about how we all need Jesus to open our ears so we can hear what he has to say for us, Father Gareth, the Vicar, was at St. Alban’s, Ilford for a Confirmation by the Bishop of Richborough.

At the Peace, the children of the Sunday School carried in a card they had made for Mary’s birthday and a bunch of roses which we placed at the statue of Mary with a short prayer.

Yesterday I was privileged to be one of the concelebrants and to preach at the Solemn Mass at St. Augustine’s when Caitlyn, the Granddaughter of the Vicar Father Martin was Baptised.

PARALYMPICS

Yesterday Ann and I went to the Paralympics. We managed to get tickets for Goal Ball which is a game played by blind folk who use a ball with a bell inside. You have to sit quietly and are only allowed to applaud when the referee says. We went to the quarter final between GB and Sweden and GB lost 2 –1 after extra time.

 

Our ticket included a Day Pass so we were able to spend time looking around at this most impressive site. We were also able to go to the 7 Aside Football between Brazil and the Ukraine.

 

We were shocked by the prices charged for food: for example £6 for a Jacket Potato, £8.50 for Fish and Chips (the fish was small – very small) and served in a plastic container – ugh, £2.30 for a Coca Cola or other soft drink £1.60 for a bottle of water etc.

I was very impressed with the river walks and the abundance of wild flowers. We weren’t able to get any tickets for the Olympics but I have to say going to the Paralympics more than made up for this.

NEW PROVINCIAL MASTER FOR SSC

It has been announced that Father Nicholas Spicer SSC has been elected by the brethren as the new Provincial Master to succeed Father Kit Dunkley SSC. I have known Father Nicholas for over 27 years ever since we were both Assistant Curates in Bristol Diocese and am delighted with this election.

ILFORD HOSPITAL CHAPEL of ST. MARY & ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY OPEN DAY

The Hospital Chapel, Ilford Hill, will be open this SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER from 10.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m.

During the course of the morning there will be a visit by the Mayor of Redbridge.

There will be Stalls selling various items including cards, bric-a-brac, books, videos, records, cd’s and dvd’s and refreshments.

Guided tours of this the oldest building in the borough will be available throughout the day.

If you haven’t yet visited this gem why not do so this Saturday

GCSE DEBACLE

Around 65,000 students who were expected to obtain ‘C’ grade in English were awarded a ‘D’ grade after the amount of marks needed was raised. Ofqual, the exams regulator, examined the quality of marking and maintain that the marking was correct but confirmed that the standard had been raised since the January examinations. The net result for those students affected will mean that entry into Sixth Form Colleges and later Universities might no longer be possible or that Apprenticeships agreed will not go ahead.

Ofqual are refusing to budge on this matter and it now seems that some teachers will be seeking recourse to the courts. In the Independent it reports: Meanwhile, pressure is building over the Ofqual report, which heads and teachers say has done nothing to tackle the "scandal" of pupils getting different grades despite getting the same marks, depending on when they sat the exam. Heads' and teachers' organisations were meeting at the weekend to discuss the possibility of a legal challenge over what happened, which would mean a judicial review of whether the grading system was fair.

Whilst Ofqual are adamantly refusing to budge on this matter, children’s futures are being put in jeopardy. The offer to retake the examination in November would, for most of those affected, be totally useless. The only solution to this debacle is the urgent remarking of the papers.